Admission to siddha, ayurveda courses to go by NEET scores

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JUNE 01, 2019 00:00 IST

A crèche inaugurated by Health Minister Vijaya Baskar on Friday at the Institute Of Child Health.M. Vedhan

We have sought legal opinion on the matter, says Health Minister

This year, admissions to courses offered under the Indian systems of medicine (AYUSH) could be on the basis of NEET scores.

In March, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which had made National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) mandatory for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy courses, had relaxed the rule for yoga and naturopathy courses for 2019-20.

Last year, the Central government had made the test mandatory for admission to AYUSH courses but some States had protested against it. The Tamil Nadu government had also admitted students based on Plus Two marks pointing out that these admissions were governed by the respective councils which had not amended their rules for admission.

While there are councils for Ayurveda and Siddha there is none for yoga and naturopathy.

On the sidelines of the inauguration of a series of facilities at the Institute of Child Health here on Friday, Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar told reporters, “While last year too the State was under the compulsion to admit students through NEET, we did not go ahead with that. However, since the rules have been amended this year, we have sought legal opinion from the Attorney General. But it does seem that we will have to go ahead with AYUSH admissions with NEET scores.”

Dr. Vijaya Baskar said the State would have as many as 300 additional seats in MBBS this year, including 150 seats for the yet-to-be opened Karur Medical College, 100 seats each for Tirunelveli Medical College and Madurai Medical College. While the government had received orders to increase seats in Tirunelveli College, oral assurance has been received for Madurai College, the Minister said.

The State will have 3,350 seats this year, including the 100 seats for IRT Perundurai Medical College, Dr. Vijayabaskar said.

On the 10% reservation for students of economically weaker sections, the Minister said additional seats had been sought to accommodate the students. A decision would be taken after discussion with the Chief Minister, he added.

The Minister inaugurated a creche for the children of the employees of the ICH, the Government Ophthalmic Hospital and the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The creche was painted through an agreement with Kansai Nerolac Paint Limited. The three-room creche includes cradles for infants, play facilities for toddlers besides board games such as table tennis, carrom and chess.

The hospital has also set up a therapy centre for paediatric patients to participate in music, dance and theatre sessions. The institute has also put in place a pneumatic sample transport system to speed up laboratory services.

Chainsmoker’s damaged sperms lead to failed IVF

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:01.06.2019

Infertility is not always a woman’s burden, after all. In an interesting a case, a chainsmoking man’s sperms were found to be affected by nicotine. A couple in their 30s was recently screened at the city-based Nova IVI Fertility, Koramangala, after their two cycles of IVF failed elsewhere.

The husband was asked to undergo DNA fragmentation index (DFI), a specialized test, which pointed to the fragmented sperm leading to failure in conception.

Doctors said this was due to his nicotine dependency. The man was counselled and put on antioxidants as part of the treatment. After the man quit smoking, the wife conceived through IVF and is now six months pregnant. In this case, the significant factor in miscarriage is the quality of the man’s sperm.

“Whenever there is spontaneous abortion or IVF fails, it’s the woman who faces the stigma and emotional burden. In this case, the couple came to us after the woman faced spontaneous abortion, followed by two failed attempts at IVF.

“While the woman had no problems, we counselled the couple. We told them that the husband would need to take the DFI test, after he admitted that he was a chainsmoker. The results were shocking,” said Dr Santosh Gupta, fertility specialist, Nova IVI Fertility.

While sperm fragmentation up to 25-30% is normal, anything higher than that is considered a hurdle to fertility.

“Usually, the fragmentation index among smokers would be 50-60%. But in this case, it was 70%, which was quite alarming. When a person is nicotine-dependent, smoking causes oxidative damages. Anti-oxidants help in this condition. The man was asked to stop smoking completely, take more of fruits as they are rich in oxidants. Medicines with anti-oxidants were given to help his condition,” she added.

The woman conceived in December 2018 through IVF, after healthy sperms were picked up through a sperm selection technique.

A couple in their 30s was recently screened after their two cycles of IVF failed elsewhere. The husband was asked to undergo DNA fragmentation index which pointed to the fragmented sperm leading to failure in conception

Srirangam temple to ban mobile phones
Trichy:01.06.2019

The Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department that manages has mooted a proposal to prohibit devotees from carrying mobile phones into the Arulmigu Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. Locker facility has been proposed at all entry points for devotees to deposit mobile phones for a minimal fare.

HR&CE sources said the decision to ban the usage of mobile phones was taken based on a suggestion post a safety audit conducted by the Tamil Nadu Police (security) recently. Taking a cue from the mobile phone ban at the Meenakshi Amman temple in Madurai, HR&CE department has passed an internal circular briefing the proposal and inviting suggestions. TNN

Politicians in state tear into Modi govt over appeal in SC

‘BJP Intends To Push Greenfield Project Against State Interest’

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:01.06.2019

The Modi government moving the Supreme Court, challenging the Madras high court order that quashed the land acquisition proceedings for the ₹10,000 crore Chennai-Salem greenfield project, has triggered sharp reactions from Tamil Nadu political parties. While the DMK dubbed it an ‘unpardonable betrayal of Tamils’, the PMK, an NDA ally, expressed shock over the move and vowed to fight until the project was dropped.

A vacation bench of Justices M R Shah and A S Bopanna in the Supreme Court has scheduled hearing of the appeal for June 3, after counsel for the Centre said the prayer was of ‘utmost importance.’ In its April order, the high court had found the project report of the consultant highly flawed and held public hearing and environmental clearance from the Union government mandatory. The bench had observed that it would have adverse effects on environment and water bodies as it needed a mega realignment. The order had received widespread appreciation, and the affected farmers celebrated with sweets and fireworks.

DMK chief M K Stalin hit out at the state and central governments they failed to learn lessons from the “gift (read defeat)” handed over by the electorate in the state, especially in Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tiruvannamalai and Kancheepuram Lok Sabha constituencies, where the alignment had been proposed. “It is shocking that the government headed by Narendra Modi, who vowed to build inclusive India, remains anti-Tamil Nadu just a day after assuming charge,” the DMK leader said, demanding that the scheme be withdrawn, and new routes be considered. The DMK-Congress combine had won the seats by a margin of 70,750 and 3.04 lakh votes, while Anbumani faced a humiliating defeat in Dharmapuri.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari had said in an election rally in Salem that the project would be executed after discussions with farmers. NHAI sources said the agency was keen on moving the SC with an appeal and papers were getting ready when election code of conduct was put in place. “Following the recommendations from expert appraisal committee of environment ministry, the NHAI engaged IIT Madras and got a report on the impact of proposed alignment on mountain ecosystem. It also entrusted an additional study to Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore. KITCO Limited, a joint venture of Kerala government and public sector banks completed 40% of socio-economic assessment on the impact of land acquisition,” said an official source. The agency reduced the acquisition of land from 2,400 hectares to 2,020 hectares following protests by farmers, activists and political parties.

The high court verdict came on a batch of petitions from 35 land owners and Anbumani Ramadoss. “We will put pressure on the state and central governments and get them to withdraw the project, which is unnecessary and would adversely affect farmers,” said Anbumani, who had filed a caveat before the Supreme Court. Incidentally, PMK founder Ramadoss and chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami were present when Union minister Gadkari announced the BJP’s intent to execute the project.

Madras univ plans startup ecosystem

Varsity To Get ₹15cr For Setting Up Career Hub

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:01.06.2019

University of Madras will provide a startup eco-system for students and will revamp courses related to entrepreneurship and self-employment from the coming academic year, said P Duraisamy, vice-chancellor of the university.

Under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) phase II scheme, the university would receive ₹15 crore from MHRD for creating an entrepreneurship and career hub at the university. The facility would be accessible for students from university departments and its affiliated colleges, he told TOI.

“The university has already received ₹7.5 crore under the scheme. We plan to set up a separate cell for helping the students to launch startups. We also plan to revamp the courses to hone their entrepreneurship skills,” said Duraisamy, who has completed two years as vice-chancellor of the university.

Listing out various academic reforms introduced in the past two years, he said the university was ranked 41 in NIRF rankings two years ago, but has now moved up to be among top 20 universities in the country.

“The university has introduced plagiarism check and online monitoring system to improve quality of PhDs. We have instituted Best Thesis and Best Teacher awards to encourage quality research, leading to publications and patents,” he said.

The Institute of Distance Education (IDE) was marred by corruption and malpractices in exams and payment system. Now, the IDE is completely revamped and even aggressively planning to introduce online courses, he said. “After finding out that the three study centres outside the state cheated in examinations, we closed all the centres outside Tamil Nadu. We also introduced online payment to eliminate malpractices in the challan payment system,” he said.

The university also introduced choice-based credit system (CBCS) and common syllabus for distance education programmes. Due to the ban on recruitment for the last two years, the vacancies in the university have risen to more than 50%.

“We will soon begin the recruitment after consulting the state government. Many of our departments do not have the minimum six faculty members required to get aid from UGC and other funding agencies. We will try to fill at least the government sanctioned posts,” the vice-chancellor said.

For the next one year, Duraisamy said, his priority would be to bring the university out of its current financial crisis.

“The university has huge potential. We will aim to move up in our rankings and will lay the road map to become category-1 university which ushers in greater autonomy and funding,” Duraisamy said.

Home loan scam: Banker,4 builders get three-year jail

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:01.06.2019

A bank manager and four builders, involved in a ₹10 crore scam between 2005 and 2007, have now been found guilty of the fraud by a CBI court and sentenced to three years of imprisonment each, besides being fined up to ₹10 lakh.

In four orders, special judge S Jawahar of the XI additional special court, convicted former manager of Anna Nagar branch of State Bank of Saurashtra (now SBI) Pinaki Bhattacharya and sentenced him to a three-year jail term and impose a fine of ₹9.75 lakh in all the four cases where charges of corruption, forgery and cheating were framed against him.

The builders in the four cases — N Ramji of Balaji foundation, P Vazhuthi of Om Ayangaran, T Karthik Prakash of SK Constructions and Subhash Chandran of Saravana Foundation — were sentenced to undergo imprisonment for three years each, besides a fine of ₹5 lakh each.

Apart from this, M Shanmugasundaram, a technician of Southern Railway’s Loco workshop, K Madhivanan a worker at Chennai Port Trust, and M Jayakumar, a tailor at the Ordinance Clothing Factory (OCF) in Avadi, were also convicted and sentenced in the case.

The banker and bosses of real estate companies connived with the railway employees and offered to build houses for gullible clerical staff in various central government entities during 2005-2007.

M V Dinaker, CBI senior public prosecutor, told TOI all the four cases had a similar modus operandi where the manager conspired with the real estate company owners and others to identify 40-50 lower level central government employees. Though they were ineligible for housing loans, the accused forged their payslips and other documents to get loans sanctioned in their names. The loan sums were then directly transferred into the accounts of the real estate bosses.

The houses that the companies promised to build were in Tiruninravur in Tiruvallur district, in an area where water and electricity connections were not available. “The money was then diverted by the accused to their other projects elsewhere,” Dinaker told TOI.

As a result, many of the accounts turned non-performing assets (NPA) as the loans were not paid.

Most of the gullible people tricked inot the scam were employed in Southern Railway, Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Ordnance Clothing Factory (OCF), Heavy Vehicle Factory (HVF) Avadi, Chennai Port Trust and other such central agencies.

Annamalai varsity class of ’69 honours teachers

Chennai:01.06.2019

With heads held high, the class of 1969 left Annamalai University in Chidambaram filled with great hopes and dreams. While they set out on different paths, they promised to stay in touch. And they did. “We stayed in touch though life took us to different places,” said P Balasubramanian, a 73-year-old industrialist and alumni of engineering. The ‘students’ got together again on Friday at Ambassador Pallava hotel to celebrate 50 years of leaving college, but this time celebrated it by honouring their teachers. “We are what we are today because of our teachers. We planned this for long,” he said. About 44 students from the batch gathered with their spouses to honour eight teachers, who they had traced. They held Guruvandhanam – a thanksgiving ceremony to their teachers, who were aged above 80. “A teacher’s role is crucial in shaping students. I am happy to see that all my students are well established and leading prosperous lives,” said S Sadique, an 84-year-old former professor. TNN

Asset case: PCB official placed under suspension

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.06.2019

The pollution control board has placed under suspension one of its senior officials two days before his retirement on Friday, for allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

A Thanga Pandian, an additional chief environment engineer in Chennai, posted in Tuticorin in 2005-2008, gave approval for the expansion of Sterlite company.

After gathering evidence against Thanga Pandian, the vigilance department recommended his suspension.

Generally, in a case where a government employee is found to be involved in smaller offences, the vigilance department recommends to initiate departmental action.

In this case with solid evidence, the department has recommended for suspension.

An official said a couple of cases was already pending against the official over the last decade. However, he was promoted to the rank of additional chief environment engineer.

So far, no officer in this rank has been placed under suspension in the board, the official added.

Audio clips on ‘bribery’ in university recruitment process go viral

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

BALLARI, JUNE 01, 2019 00:00 IST

The process for recruitment in Vijayanagar Sri Krishnadevaraya University has been bogged down by allegations of corruption with two audio clips going viral as far as the ongoing recruitment for non-teaching posts is concerned.

However, Vice-Chancellor M.S. Subhas has dismissed the allegations stating that the process of recruitment for teaching and non-teaching posts is going on in the most transparent manner.

One of the two audio clips has a voice of a woman and a man, identified as Fathima and Ramesh, both said to be working as contract employees in the university and who had applied for non-teaching posts, discussing in Telugu about payment of bribe to get appointment. The woman is heard saying that Rs. 10 lakh had to be paid for the post, while the man asks her to be cautious to ensure that the money did not go into the wrong hands. He also asks her how she could arrange for the money.

In another audio clip, a man, identified as Chidananda, also a contract employee and a candidate, is heard requesting a librarian, identified as Kattimani, to talk to the Vice-Chancellor to get him a job.


Meanwhile, Mr. Subhas, after coming to know about the audio clips, summoned all the four — Ramesh, Fathima, Chidananda and Kattimani — and terminated them from service on the charge of indulging in activities that tarnished the image of the university. After that, Ramesh was reportedly manhandled by some people for releasing the audio clip. However, he has not lodged any police complaint in this connection.

When contacted, Mr. Subhas told The Hindu that the allegation of bribery, as shown in the audio clip, is false and baseless.

Mr. Subhas also said that it was the outcome of a tussle between two groups of contract employees with one wanting the recruitment process to go on while the other was against it.

“We have initiated action against all the four involved in the two audio clips. The written exam for the non-teaching posts was held as per schedule on Saturday and another will be held on June 3,” he said.

The allegation of bribery, as shown in the audio clip, is false and baseless. It is the outcome of a tussle between two groups of contract employees with one wanting the recruitment process to go on while the other is against it, says Vice-Chancellor of Vijayanagar Sri Krishnadevaraya University M.S. Subhas

Economic reservation in MBBS won’t affect 69% quota: Minister

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.06.2019

Tamil Nadu is yet to take a decision on implementing reservation for economically weaker sections in medical admissions. Even if the state has to implement it as per the Centre’s announcement, it will not affect the existing 69% reservation, health minister C Vijayabaskar said on Friday.

“The Union health ministry has asked us to identify and inform it about 10% seats for the quota. It’s a policy decision that will be made after discussion with the chief minister and the chief secretary,” he said. As of now, it will not affect the existing quota. “This would mean that the state will have 79% of its seats reserved and 21% for admission under the open category. We will seek additional seats to accommodate students under the new quota.”

This year, the state will have 24 government colleges and 16 self-financing colleges offering 3,400 medical seats. There will be 2,250 seats in government colleges. Last week, the minister said the state would conduct MBBS counselling online, as done by Delhi-based Directorate General of Health Services. This year, however, the selection committee is likely to make only the application process, not allotments, online. “For this year, it may be difficult to verify details like nativity,” the minister said.

The state, meanwhile, has been talking to the Centre regarding NEET-based admission for AYUSH courses. “This year, it is mandatory to admit students who are NEET-qualified as the law has been amended. As a matter of policy, we are against NEET. We are talking to the Centre for exemption,” he said.

This year, the state will have 24 govt colleges and 16 self-financing colleges offering 3,400 medical seats

Govt to rejig doc postings to better use specialists

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:

The Directorate of Medical Education has initiated a process to shuffle and post 900 doctors, including specialists who have been posted at places that do not utilise their potential.

The directorate said many specialists in the state, particularly those on the clinical side (such as ophthalmology and paediatrics), were posted at nonclinical wings because either there were no doctors available for the posts or the doctor had requested such a posting.

“We are making amends. We want to place the right specialists at the right places,” said director of medical service Dr A Edwin Joe.

“We have enough doctors in most specialities. If we don’t need specialists in a particular department, we send them to district headquarters hospitals. This would mean they will have work for the directorate of medical services. This will also ensure specialty services in rural areas.”

Recently, several doctors were redesignated to suit Medical Council of India norms. “Several assistant professors were designated as associate professors. Some associate professors were made professors. This has created some vacancies which we need to fill,” he said. Counselling for the new postings will be held for a week.

The restructuring would mean that several doctors in the city could be asked to work in medical college and hospitals in rural areas. This has upset the government doctors’ association.

“Under a process of restructuring, MBBS and diploma holders will be posted in peripheral hospitals but specialists are asked to work in rural medical colleges. Why should they retain junior doctors and transfer seniors? Officials have said attendance at counselling is compulsory,” said Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association president Dr K Senthil.

“If existing doctors are expelled from the medical college to district hospitals, what will be the fate of doctors doing PG courses now?” he asked. He said if there is saturation in a speciality, the government should decrease the number of PG seats.


The restructuring would mean many city doctors could be asked to work in and hospitals in rural areas. This has upset the government doctors’ association

TN comes up with dress code for staff to ‘maintain office decorum’
Julie Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:01.06.2019

The Tamil Nadu government believes clothes maketh the man, and woman. It has brought in a dress code for those working at Fort St George, the seat of its power.

Women will have to wear “saris or salwar kameez or churidar with dupatta of sober colour” and men will have to wear “formal shirts with formal pants”. There’s no word on whether ‘veshties’ are allowed.

An order issued by the personnel and administrative reforms department signed by chief secretary Girija Vaidyanathan on Tuesday sought to amend the dress code prescribed in Tamil Nadu Secretariat Office Manual to “suit the present-day circumstances and to maintain the decorum of the office”.

“When the elected representatives wear veshti, why insist on pants,” asked an official. The order says a male officer who makes an appearance before a court or tribunal or any other judicial forum should wear a “short buttoned up coat with full sleeves, with trousers”. If the officer prefers an open coat, he should put on a tie as well and the clothes should be sober and subdued in colour and design. A woman officer should wear a sari or salwar kameez or churidar with dupatta of a sober colour.

What’s the trigger for the order? Apparently, officials had turned up in court shabbily dressed and this had evoked criticism. “The government may have taken a decision to preserve Tamil culture. Let everyone abide by the order,” said Tamil Nadu secretariat association chief Peter Anthonysamy.

‘Not sure whether veshti can be worn’

Chennai: “A section of youngsters prefers Tshirts and jeans, which don’t go well with the prescribed norms. Formal attire will evoke the respect of the public visiting the secretariat. Not sure if veshti can be worn,” an official said, pleading ignorance of the office manual. It remains to be seen if government agencies and departments elsewhere will follow suit.

Read more at Medical Dialogues: Pharma D can now use DR prefix, Doctors cry foul https://medicaldialogues.in/pharma-d-can-now-use-dr-prefix-doctors-cry-foul/

Read more at Medical Dialogues: Pharma D can now use DR prefix, Doctors cry foul https://medicaldialogues.in/pharma-d-can-now-use-dr-prefix-doctors-cry-foul/

Read more at Medical Dialogues: Pharma D can now use DR prefix, Doctors cry foul https://medicaldialogues.in/pharma-d-can-now-use-dr-prefix-doctors-cry-foul/

Public Notice 29.05.2019

சிங்கப்பூருக்கு கடத்த முயற்சிசென்னை விமான நிலையத்தில் 64 கிலோ சுறா மீன் துடுப்புகள் பறிமுதல்


சென்னையில் இருந்து சிங்கப்பூருக்கு கடத்த முயன்ற ரூ.32 லட்சம் மதிப்புள்ள 64 கிலோ சுறா மீன் துடுப்புகளை சுங்க இலாகா அதிகாரிகள் பறிமுதல் செய்தனர்.

பதிவு: மே 30, 2019 03:45 AM மாற்றம்: மே 30, 2019 04:12 AM
ஆலந்தூர்,

சென்னை மீனம்பாக்கம் பன்னாட்டு விமான நிலையத்தில் இருந்து சிங்கப்பூருக்கு விமானம் சென்றது. முன்னதாக அதில் செல்ல வந்த பயணிகளை விமான நிலைய சுங்க இலாகா அதிகாரிகள் சோதனை செய்தனர்.

அப்போது சிங்கப்பூருக்கு செல்ல வந்த சென்னையை சேர்ந்த மதார்(வயது 25), மதுரையை சேர்ந்த ஷேக்மதார்(35) ஆகியோரது உடைமைகளை சந்தேகத்தின்பேரில் சோதனை செய்தனர்.

அதில் அவர்களிடம் இருந்த அட்டைபெட்டிகளில் சுறா மீனின் துடுப்புகளை மறைத்து வைத்து கடத்த முயன்றதை கண்டுபிடித்தனர். இதுபற்றி மத்திய வனத்துறை அதிகாரிகளிடம் விசாரித்தபோது, சுறா மீனின் துடுப்புகளை ஏற்றுமதி செய்ய தடை செய்யப்பட்டு உள்ளதாக தெரிவித்தனர்.

இதையடுத்து 2 பேரின் விமான பயணத்தை ரத்து செய்த சுங்க இலாகா அதிகாரிகள், 2 பேரிடம் இருந்தும் ரூ.32 லட்சம் மதிப்புள்ள 64 கிலோ எடை கொண்ட சுறா மீனின் துடுப்புகளை பறிமுதல் செய்தனர். சுறா மீனின் துடுப்புகள் சீனாவில் மருத்துவ சூப்பாக பயன்படுத்தப்படுவதாக கூறப்படுகிறது.

பின்னர் மேல் விசாரணைக்காக பிடிபட்ட 2 பேர் மற்றும் பறிமுதல் செய்யப்பட்ட சுறா மீனின் துடுப்புகள் மத்திய வனத்துறை அதிகாரிகளிடம் ஒப்படைக்கப்பட்டது.

தலையங்கம்

2–வது இன்னிங்சை தொடங்குகிறார் மோடி



இந்தியாவின் 14–வது பிரதமரான நரேந்திரமோடி 2–வது முறையாக இன்று மாலை பிரதமராக பொறுப்பு ஏற்கப்போகிறார்.

மே 30 2019, 04:00

இந்தியாவின் 14–வது பிரதமரான நரேந்திரமோடி 2–வது முறையாக இன்று மாலை பிரதமராக பொறுப்பு ஏற்கப்போகிறார். பொதுவாக ஆட்சியில் இருப்பவர்களுக்கு எதிரான ஒரு நிலைப்பாடுதான் தேர்தலின்போது காணப்படும். ஆனால், பா.ஜ.க.வோ கடந்த தேர்தலின்போது 282 இடங்களில் தனித்து வெற்றிபெற்ற நிலையில், இந்த தேர்தலில் 303 இடங்களில் வெற்றிபெற்றுள்ளது. இது ஒட்டுமொத்த இந்தியாவை மட்டுமல்லாமல், உலகத்தையே வியக்கவைக்கிறது. நரேந்திரமோடி இன்று மாலைதான் பதவி ஏற்கிறார் என்றாலும், பதவி ஏற்றவுடன் மிக மின்னல்வேகத்தில் செயல்படப்போகிறார் என்பதை பிரதமரின் அலுவலகம், தற்போது பல்வேறு துறைகளுடன் தொடர்புகொண்டு அடுக்கடுக்காக பல தகவல்களை கேட்கும் வேகத்திலேயே தெரிகிறது.

பதவி ஏற்பு விழாவுக்கு கடந்தமுறை சார்க் நாடுகளை சேர்ந்த தலைவர்களை அழைத்திருந்தார். இப்போது அந்த நிலைப்பாட்டிலிருந்து மாறி, ‘பிம்ஸ்டெக்’ என்று கூறப்படும் வங்காள விரிகுடா கடலின் ஓரமாக உள்ள வங்காளதேசம், இலங்கை, பூடான், நேபாளம், மியான்மர், தாய்லாந்து நாடுகளின் தலைவர்களையும், கிர்கிஸ்தான், மொரீசியஸ் தலைவர்களையும் அழைத்திருக்கிறார். இந்த பட்டியலின் அடிப்படையில், அவர் அழைப்புவிடுத்திருப்பதால், பாகிஸ்தான் இந்த பட்டியலில் வரவில்லை. இன்று பதவி ஏற்றதும், பிரதமர் அடுக்கடுக்கான நடவடிக்கைகளை எடுக்கப்போகிறார். அடுத்த சிலநாட்களில் முழுமையான பட்ஜெட்டை தாக்கல் செய்யவேண்டிய கட்டாயம் இருப்பதால், உடனடியாக பிரதமரும், புதிதாக பொறுப்பேற்கப்போகும் நிதி மந்திரியும் பட்ஜெட் தயாரிப்பில் மிகத்தீவிரமாக ஈடுபட வேண்டியநிலை உள்ளது. ஒவ்வொரு துறையிலும் அடுத்த 100 நாட்களில் நிறைவேற்றுவதற்கான திட்டங்கள் தீட்டப்படுகின்றன. பாஜ.க. தேர்தல் அறிக்கையில் பல அறிவிப்புகள் வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளன. அவற்றையெல்லாம் நிறைவேற்றவேண்டும். முதல்கட்டமாக வேலைவாய்ப்புகள் பெருமளவில் உருவாக்குவதற்கான நடவடிக்கைகளை எடுக்கவேண்டும். தொழில்துறையிலும் வேலைவாய்ப்புகள் வேண்டும், வேளாண்துறையிலும் வேலைவாய்ப்புகள் வேண்டும், தொழில்துறையில் வேலைவாய்ப்புகளை பெருமளவில் உருவாக்கவேண்டுமென்றால், தனியார் தொழில் நிறுவனங்கள் ஊக்குவிக்கப்படவேண்டும். வெகுநாட்களாக தொழில் நிறுவனங்களின் எதிர்பார்ப்பான நிறுவன வரிகுறைப்பை மேற்கொள்ளவேண்டும் என்பதுதான் பொதுவான எதிர்பார்ப்புகள்.

விவசாயத்தை பொறுத்தமட்டில், கிராமத்தில் உள்ள விவசாயிகளின் பையில் பணம் இருந்தால் ஊரக பொருளாதாரம் உயரும் என்பது நியதி. எனவே, அதற்கேற்ற நடவடிக்கைகளை எடுக்கவேண்டும். 2022–ல் இந்தியா சுதந்திரம் அடைந்து 75 ஆண்டுகள் ஆகப்போவதை ஒட்டி, அதை இலக்காக வைத்து பிரதமர் நரேந்திரமோடி 1,000 நாளில் அவரது அரசாங்கம் நிறைவேற்றவேண்டிய திட்டங்களை எல்லாம் வகுத்து செயல்படுவார் என்ற நம்பிக்கை நாட்டு மக்களுக்கு நிறைய இருக்கிறது. கடந்த தேர்தலின்போது அவர் வெளியிட்ட தேர்தல் அறிக்கையில், ‘அனைவரோடும் இணைவோம், அனைவரும் முன்னேறுவோம்’ என்ற முழக்கத்தை வெளியிட்டிருந்தார். ஆனால், இப்போது அவர் பேசும்போது, ‘இந்த முழக்கத்தோடு அனைவரின் நம்பிக்கையையும் பெற்று’ என்ற வாசகத்தை சேர்த்திருக்கிறார். ஏற்கனவே தேசிய ஜனநாயக கூட்டணி எம்.பி.க்களிடம் பேசும்போது, ‘நமக்கு எதிராக ஓட்டளித்தவர்களும் நம்மவர்கள்தான்’ என்று கூறியிருக்கிறார். இது தமிழக மக்களுக்கு பெரிய நம்பிக்கையை கொடுத்துள்ளது. தமிழக மக்களின் எதிர்பார்ப்பான கோதாவரி–காவிரி இணைப்பு திட்டத்துக்கான முயற்சிகளை உடனடியாக தொடங்கி, தமிழக மக்களின் நம்பிக்கையை பெறவேண்டும். மொத்தத்தில், இந்தமுறை அவரது அணுகுமுறை வித்தியாசமாக இருக்கப்போகிறது என்பது தெள்ளத்தெளிவாக தெரிகிறது. அவரது 2–வது இன்னிங்சில் எத்தனை ரன்கள் குவிப்பார் என்பதை வருங்காலம் காட்டும்.

இன்ஜி., கவுன்சிலிங் விண்ணப்ப பதிவுக்கு நாளை கடைசி

Added : மே 29, 2019 22:40

சென்னை, இன்ஜினியரிங் கவுன்சிலிங்கில் பங்கேற்பதற்கான, விண்ணப்பப் பதிவுக்கு, நாளை கடைசி நாள். இதுவரை, 1.30 லட்சம் பேர் விண்ணப்பித்துள்ளனர்.தமிழகத்தில் உள்ள இன்ஜினியரிங் கல்லுாரிகளில், நிர்வாக ஒதுக்கீட்டில், இன்ஜினியரிங் படிப்பில் சேர, தமிழக அரசின் கவுன்சிலிங்கில் பங்கேற்க வேண்டாம். அதேபோல், நிகர்நிலை பல்கலைகளின் படிப்பில் சேரவும், தமிழக கவுன்சிலிங்கில், கலந்து கொள்ள வேண்டாம்.ஆனால், அண்ணா பல்கலையின் இணைப்பில் உள்ள, இன்ஜினியரிங் கல்லுாரிகளில், முதலாம் ஆண்டு படிப்பில் சேர, தமிழக அரசு நடத்தும், ஒருங்கிணைந்த கவுன்சிலிங்கில் பங்கேற்க வேண்டும். 2018 வரை, அண்ணா பல்கலை நடத்திய கவுன்சிலிங்கை, இந்த ஆண்டு, தமிழக தொழில்நுட்ப கல்வி இயக்குனரகம் நடத்துகிறது.

இந்த கவுன்சிலிங்கில் பங்கேற்பதற்கான, 'ஆன்லைன்' விண்ணப்பப் பதிவு, மே, 2ல் துவங்கியது. மாணவர்கள் தங்கள் விபரங்களை, https://tneaonline.in என்ற இணையதளத்தில், பதிவு செய்து வருகின்றனர். நேற்று மாலை வரை, 1.30 லட்சம் பேர், தங்கள் விபரங்களை பதிவு செய்து, கவுன்சிலிங்குக்கான கட்டணம் செலுத்தியுள்ளனர்.ஒரு மாதமாக நடந்து வரும் ஆன்லைன் பதிவு, நாளையுடன் முடிகிறது. மாணவர்கள், கடைசி நேரம் வரை காத்திருக்காமல், தங்கள் விபரங்களை விரைந்து பதிவு செய்யும்படி, தொழில்நுட்ப கல்வி இயக்குனரகம் அறிவுறுத்தி உள்ளது.

தீயில் கருகியது 10 ஏக்கர் கரும்பு

Added : மே 29, 2019 23:17

ராஜபாளையம், ராஜபாளையம் அருகே தெற்கு வெங்காநல்லுாரில் திடீர் தீ விபத்தில் 10 ஏக்கருக்கு மேற்பட்ட கரும்பு கருகியது.தெற்கு வெங்காநல்லுார் ரோட்டில் நக்கனேரி செல்லும் வழியில் பெரியகுளம் கண்மாய் மற்றும் அலப்பசேரி கண்மாய் பாசன நிலங்களில் பல ஏக்கரில் கரும்பு சாகுபடி செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. நேற்று இப்பகுதியில் திடீரென தீ பற்றியதில் 10 ஏக்கர் கரும்பு சேதமடைந்தது. மேலும் அருகில் உள்ள நெல்லித் தோப்பில் 20க்கும் மேற்பட்ட மரங்கள் கருகின. தீயணைப்பு துறையினர் தீயை கட்டுப்படுத்தினர். விபத்திற்கான காரணம் குறித்து தெற்கு போலீசார் விசாரிக்கின்றனர்.விவசாயி ரமேஷ் கூறுகையில், ''ஓர் ஆண்டு பாடுபட்டு விளைவித்த கரும்பு ஆலைக்கு அனுப்ப தயாரான நிலையில், தீ விபத்து ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. ஏற்கனவே தண்ணீர் பற்றாக்குறை, வெயில் போன்ற காரணங்களால் விளைச்சல் குறைந்துள்ள நிலையில், இந்த இழப்பும் சேர்ந்து மிகுந்த பாதிப்பை ஏற்படுத்தி உள்ளது,'' என்றார்.

பிசியோதெரபி படிப்பு 69 இடங்கள் நிரம்பின

Added : மே 29, 2019 22:48

சென்னை, முதுநிலை பிசியோதெரபி படிப்புக்கான மாணவர் சேர்க்கையில், 69 இடங்கள் நிரம்பின.தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டர் எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., மருத்துவ பல்கலையின் கீழ் செயல்படும், தனியார் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில், முதுநிலை இயன்முறை மருத்துவம் எனப்படும், பிசியோதெரபி படிப்புக்கு, 800 இடங்கள் உள்ளன. இதில், அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டுக்கு, 40 இடங்கள் உள்ளன.இந்த படிப்புக்கு, 74 பேர் மட்டுமே விண்ணப்பித்தனர். இதற்கான கவுன்சிலிங், கீழ்ப்பாக்கம், மருத்துவ கல்வி இயக்குனரகத்தில், நேற்று நடந்தது. இதில், அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டு இடங்களுடன் சேர்த்து, 69 இடங்கள் நிரம்பின. மீதமுள்ள இடங்களை, அந்தந்த கல்லுாரிகள் நிரப்பிக் கொள்ள அனுமதி அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மருத்துவ மாணவர்கள் 107 பேர் தனியார் கல்லுாரிக்கு மாற்றம்

Added : மே 29, 2019 22:41

சென்னை, காஞ்சிபுரம், பொன்னையா ராமஜெயம் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரியில் படித்த, 107 மாணவர்கள், கவுன்சிலிங் வாயிலாக, தனியார் மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரிக்கு மாற்றப்பட்டனர்.காஞ்சிபுரம் மாவட்டம், மணமைநல்லுாரில், பொன்னையா ராமஜெயம் என்ற, தனியார் மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரி செயல்பட்டது. 

இந்திய மருத்துவ கவுன்சில் விதியை பின்பற்றாததால், கல்லுாரியின் அங்கீகாரம் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டது.இதனால், 2016 - 17 கல்வியாண்டில், இக்கல்லுாரியில் சேர்ந்த, 108 மாணவர்களை, ஆறு தனியார் மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரிக்கு மாற்ற வேண்டும் என, உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டது. இதற்கான கவுன்சிலிங், சென்னை, கீழ்ப்பாக்கத்தில் உள்ள, மருத்துவக் கல்வி இயக்குனரக அலுவலகத்தில், நேற்று நடந்தது;
107 மாணவர்கள் வந்திருந்தனர்; ஒரு மாணவி பங்கேற்வில்லை.இதில், 50 மாணவர்கள், சிதம்பரம், ராஜா முத்தையா மருத்துவக்கல்லுாரிக்கும், 10 மாணவர்கள், மேல்மருவத்துார், ஆதிபராசக்தி மருத்துவக்கல்லுாரிக்கும் மாற்றப்பட்டனர். மற்றவர்கள், காஞ்சிபுரம், கற்பகவிநாயகா; கோவை, கற்பகம்; சென்னை, தாகூர்; மதுரை, வேலம்மாள் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளுக்கு மாற்றப்பட்டனர்.

Visually impaired med aspirant gets reprieve

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

PublishedMay 30, 2019, 4:07 am IST

Stating that the benefit of the relief given by the single judge to allot a seat to Vibin shall be given effect to for the academic year 2019-2020.

Madras high court

Chennai: Madras high court directed the authorities to allot a medical seat to a minor student with more than 40 % visual impairment. The court pointed out that the notification issued by the Medical Council of India dated February 4, 2019 making persons with visual impairment of low vision and blindness equivalent to or more than 40 per cent ineligible to join the medical course, would operate prospectively and it cannot be given effect to retrospectively.

Dismissing the appeals filed by the state government and the Government Pudukottai Medical College Hospital in Pudukottai, a division bench comprising Justices Pushpa Sathyanarayana and T.Krishnavalli gave the directive and upheld an order passed by the single judge, directing the authorities to allot a medical seat to J.Vibin of Tirunelveli.

Stating that the benefit of the relief given by the single judge to allot a seat to Vibin shall be given effect to for the academic year 2019-2020, the bench directed the Selection Committee to pass appropriate orders in this regard immediately.

"Before parting with this matter, this court places on record its appreciation to the efforts put forth by Vibin to become a medical practitioner. Indeed, his tireless efforts are laudable and surely deserve appreciation. This court wishes Vibin to come up with flying colours in his endeavours", the bench added.

Vibin is a physically challenged student, having benchmark disability of visually impairment to an extent of 75 % as per certificate issued to him by the Government of Tamil Nadu. He has secured the requisite marks in the qualifying examinations and participated in NEET examination. Thereafter, through online counselling, he got selected and allotted to the Government Pudukottai Medical College Hospital.

When he went to the college, he was asked to produce Disability Certificate from one of the Disability Assessment Boards. Accordingly, he appeared before Special Medical Board (Madras Medical College) and it was certified that he was suffering from visual impairment to an extent of 90 % and hence he was not eligible for admission in Medical/Dental Courses as per MCI norms. He was denied medical seat in the college. Aggrieved, he approached the high court and a single judge had allowed the petition. Assailing the same, the state government and the college filed the present appeals.

Dismissing the appeals, the bench said Vibin was suffering from not less than 40 percent of specified disability, which means, he was a person with benchmark disability. According to the senior counsel for the petitioner, since Vibin was suffering from benchmark disability, he was entitled to claim a seat out of five percent seats, which ought to have been reserved for persons with benchmark disabilities, the bench added.

The bench said a similar question as to whether a person with benchmark disability of low vision can be denied the benefit of reservation for admission to the MBBS medical course came for consideration before the Supreme Court. As the recommendation of the committee formed by the MCI was not given statutory effect and the amendment proposed was only at secretariat level, the Supreme Court held that the petitioner therein cannot be denied of medical admission. Placing reliance on the provision (5 percent reservation) and the judgment of the apex court, the single judge passed the order. However, subsequently, the MCI brought an amendment by which the persons with 40 percent or more visual impairment were not eligible to join a medical course. The MCI issued the notification on February 4, 2019 in which it was stated that they shall come into force from the date of the notification. Hence, it goes without saying the notification would operate prospectively and it cannot be given effect to retrospectively, the bench added and gave the above directive.

Can’t bar candidates with learning disabilities: Madras high court

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

PublishedMay 30, 2019, 4:10 am IST

Bench said the Preamble of the PWD Act does not permit any deviation from the Act.

Madras High Court

Chennai: The Madras high court has observed that candidates with learning disabilities or any other disability should not be barred from entering the field of medicine.

"The principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (PWD Act) should be followed in their letter and spirit", said a division bench comprising Justices Pushpa Sathyanarayana and T. Krishnavalli.

The bench made the observations while referring to the recent amendment notified by the Medical Council of India, making the persons with 40 percent or more visual impairment ineligible for medical course.

Dealing with a case of a medical aspirant, who was denied seat on the ground that he was suffering from visual impairment to an extent of 90 %, the bench said the amendment would operate prospectively and cannot be given effect to retrospectively and directed the authorities to allot a seat to the petitioner.

While considering a question as to whether the 2019 amendment to the Medical Education Regulations suggested by the Expert committee was applicable to the case of the petitioner J.Vibin, the bench said in the light of the PWD Act and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the recent guidelines of MCI were unfair, discriminatory and unlawful.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2007was accepted and ratified by India by which it was mandatory to harmonise all its existing legislations in line with its provisions. Accordingly, the PWD Act was passed in 2016 and brought to force in 2017.

"The intention of the legislature was to move from a charity approach to a right based approach and safeguard the human rights of the Persons with Disabilities. As per the Act, any person with benchmark disability, i.e., minimum 40 % of a specified disability is entitled, as a matter of right, to avail the benefits under the PWD Act including 5 percent reservation in higher education", the bench added.

Bench said the Preamble of the PWD Act does not permit any deviation from the Act. While framing the guidelines, doctors with disabilities ought to have been considered. The competence of a doctor with disability cannot be assumed, as unless it was experienced one may not understand the same. If a person with visual impairment was already a doctor, it shall be possible for a blind person to be a doctor.

Dr.Y.G.Parameshvera of Karnataka was the first Indian blind doctor and practiced medicine and won several awards. It seems to be a difficult struggle for these blind men to achieve what they want. The petitioner is not the first blind doctor and he can learn from the experiences of others like him. Being blind need not destroy one's dreams", the bench added.

The bench said even most of the hospitals in the country were not disabled friendly. It was painful to note that no time allowance was given to persons with disabilities and they crack this tough competitive examination along with/on a par with others, the bench added.

Reproducing section 21 and 10 of the PWD Act, the bench said the MCI regulations denying reasonable accommodation was discriminatory. The MCI guidelines did not foresee the emotional impact of studying medicine with disabilities.

"The arbitrary sudden and unreasoned amendment to the notification is violative of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and also the doctrine of legitimate expectation. The subsequent amendment should not operate to the prejudice of the persons with disabilities, particularly, when the person (Vibin) had qualified and cleared the eligibility criteria", the bench added.

The bench said in the case on hand, the petitioner (Vibin) was given the benefit of joining the medical course in the ensuing academic year by the writ court and the same cannot be curtailed by any reason whatsoever, which was unsustainable in the eye of law and thrashing out his legitimate expectation.

SC allows wife of convict to live with in-laws’ family

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | PARMOD KUMAR

PublishedMay 30, 2019, 1:54 am IST

Quashes HC’s ruling on woman’s stay with Catholic community.

Supreme Court of India  30.05.2019

New Delhi: The Supreme court on Wednesday set aside the Madras high court order directing Ansar Nisha, a woman, to be kept in the custody of Madras Christian Council Social Service home even though she had expressed the wish to stay in her matrimonial home after she married a life convict Tajudeen.

Noting that Ansar Nisha is a major — 22 year old —and has expressed her desire to stay with the family of her husband, who is presently in custody, the vacation bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Aniruddha Bose said, “we do not see how the high court could have passed impugned interim order directing the appellant (Ansar Nisha) to be housed in the home at Madras Christian Council of Social Service,...”

Referring to the averments made before the court today, the bench in its order said, “It is quite clear that the appellant (Ansar Nisha) is clear of her intention to stay with her in-laws in their house and not with her parents. If that is so, we find no justification for the high court to pass the impugned order.”

Pronouncing the order, Chief Justice Gogoi said, “The appellant being a major would have a right to choose to stay in the house of her husband along with the relatives of the husband.”

Setting aside April 29, 2019, interim order of the high court, the top court today directed that Ansar Nisha, to be released from the home at Madras Christian Council of Social Service, where she is presently lodged. The high court by its April 29, 2019, interim order had continued the custody of Ansar Nisha with the Chennai based Madras Christian Council Social Service home till June 13.

The high court while continuing the custody of Ansar Nisha at Madras Christian Council Social Service home had said that it was open to the home to give her counselling. The high court had also permitted the mother and elder brother of Nisha to meet her.

The court also added that if the mother and elder brother of Nisha wanted to meet her, then they would have to first approach an all women police station at Perambur and only then, they can meet her in the presence of a police official.

Ansar Nisha had earlier filed a domestic violence against her mother and brother alleging that they have misappropriated 250 gms of gold jewellery given to her by her father for her marriage. She had also alleged that she was beaten up. She had further alleged that her mother and brother forcibly tried to marry her to a dumb man. The top court had on May 10 issued notice to Tamil Nadu government and Ansar Nisha’s family.

Couple running illegal abortion centre behind departmental store nabbed

Sources say action was taken after the Collector received a complaint from relatives of a woman who underwent an abortion at the illegal centre and developed complications.

Published: 30th May 2019 03:51 AM |

By R Sivakuma

Express News Service

TIRUVANNAMALAI: A married couple was arrested by the Tiruvannamalai police on Wednesday for allegedly running an illegal abortion centre. Surgical instruments and medicines used at the centre, set up behind a departmental store on the Avalurpet Road, were seized.

Police say the centre has been functioning from the same place for the last five years. P Kavitha of Krishna Nagar was running the centre while her husband G Prabhu, who has a medical shop in the town, helped her manage the affairs, occasionally.

“Based on information, we raided the centre Tuesday night and seized some equipment. We believe there is an illegal abortion racket behind the centre. We are probing for further details,” said police superintendent Sibi Chakravarthy. Kavitha, a school dropout, allegedly had hundreds of clients, mostly unmarried women. She used the help of touts to get new patients. Police have found that Prabhu is not qualified to be a pharmacist, and his shop does not have a license. Later in the day, raids were also conducted at scan centres where the suspect had her clients scanned.


Sources say action was taken after the Collector received a complaint from relatives of a woman who underwent an abortion at the illegal centre and developed complications. Authorities, however, maintained the complaint was lodged by the Joint Director of Medical Services. This is the second such case to be reported from Tiruvannamalai.

Second case in the last six months

This is the second such case to be reported from Tiruvannamalai in recent times. Last December, another couple was arrested for the same crime.

5K guest lecturers getting paid just Rs 15K per month?

In January, UGC hiked their pay but the govt is yet to implement the wage revision

Published: 30th May 2019 04:08 AM |

By Sushmitha Ramakrishnan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Guest lecturers of government arts and science colleges have not received any pay revisions in the last three years. Despite doing as much work as regular lecturers, about 5,100 guest lecturers working in Tamil Nadu get paid only Rs 15,000, without any scope for performance appraisal, alleged Venkatesan Thangaraj of the Tamil Nadu All Government College UGC Qualified Guest Lecturers Association.

In January, the University Grants Commission hiked the salary for guest lecturers in colleges and universities to Rs 1,500 per lecture subject to a maximum of Rs 50,000 per month. In February 2010, the UGC made a similar announcement and fixed the maximum pay for guest lecturers as Rs 25,000.

Despite these pay hikes existing on paper, the government is yet to implement them, said Thangaraj. “While the Kerala government implemented the order, the Tamil Nadu government has not implemented it. Guest lecturers in the State get paid only Rs 15,000 a month,” he said. The State had revised the salary from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 a month in 2016.

Mangat Sharma, the principal secretary to the Higher Education Department, said that the department is working on regularising the jobs of the guest lecturers.”We are working on a more permanent solution. We are strategising ways to make them permanent employees,” he said. Express could not get comments from R Sarumathi, the director of Collegiate Education, despite repeated calls and messages.

A guest lecturer from Thiruvannamalai Government Arts and Science College, on condition of anonymity, said that guest lecturers work almost as much as or even more than lecturers appointed by the government. “Colleges use us to compensate for their vacancies. We teach equal number of hours as regular faculty members. We still do not get the pay mandated by the UGC.”

He added that lecturers who have cleared the National Eligibility Test as mandated by UGC get paid the same as unqualified guest lecturers.

Madras HC allows suspended government staff for US trip

Subbiah, an Assistant Executive Engineer with Sulur Sub-Division in Coimbatore district, was suspended on May 31, 2018, the day of his retirement, following certain charges.

Published: 29th May 2019 03:11 AM

Madras High Court 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has granted permission to a government servant, who had been suspended from service on the last day of his retirement and facing disciplinary proceedings, to visit Atlanta in the United States to participate in the house-warming celebration of his son.


Justice RMT Teekaa Raman, who granted the permission to K Subbiah, however, restricted the number of days to 45 only.

Subbiah, an Assistant Executive Engineer with Sulur Sub-Division in Coimbatore district, was suspended on May 31, 2018, the day of his retirement, following certain charges.

He moved the High Court with the present petition to grant him three months to go to Atlanta to participate in the house-warming celebration of his son, scheduled for June 13.

Passengers want timing to be revised

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

TIRUVARUR, MAY 30, 2019 00:00 IST

Passengers have welcomed the decision to operate Tiruvarur-Karaikudi and Tiruvarur-Tiruchi special services from June 1.

Welcoming the DEMU service from Tiruvarur to Tiruchi on Sundays, the Thanjavur District Rail Users Association has requested the Southern Railway to revise the timing in such a way that it leaves Tirvarur by 6 a.m.

The train would get good passenger patronage if it is made a daily service, its advisor A.Giri said. The taluk level rail users associations in Tiruvarur-Karaikudi section are happy over the introduction of DEMU service between Tiruvarur and Karaikudi but are upset over extended travelling time. The travel time of six hours might cause low patronage, they felt.

Train service to resume from Tiruvarur to Karaikudi

R. Rajaram

TIRUCHI, MAY 30, 2019 00:00 IST

In the newly laid broad gauge line from June 1; facility is created after a gap of over five years; journey time will be six hours

Southern Railway is set to resume service in the newly laid broad gauge line from Tiruvarur to Pattukottai via Tiruthuraipoondi and from there up to Karaikudi after a gap of over five years. But the journey time to cover nearly 150-km stretch will take six hours.

It announced on Wednesday operation of passenger special trains from Tiruvarur to Karaikudi and back from June 1 to August 30.

The new six-days-a-week service is scheduled to leave Tiruvarur Junction at 8.15 a.m. and reach Karaikudi at 2.15 p.m. The train will leave Karaikudi at 2.30 p.m. and arrive at Tiruvarur at 8.30 p.m. The trains would stop at 18 stations en route including Tiruthuraipoondi, Muthupet, Athirampattinam, Pattukottai, Peravurani, Aranthangi and Kandanur Puduvayal.

Southern Railway would operate a six-car Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) rake from Tiruvarur to Karaikudi with Travelling Gatekeepers on board in both directions. There would be four Travelling Gatekeepers each in the Karaikudi-bound passenger and in the one leaving for Tiruvarur.

The Tiruvarur - Karaikudi section accounts for 84 level crossing gates of which 23 are interlocked gates where gatekeepers would be present. The remaining 61 are non-interlocked gates and it is here the role of the Travelling Gatekeepers comes about. Because of manpower shortage the railway administration would be deploying Travelling Gatekeepers on board the passenger specials. The train would stop 30 metres ahead of an approaching non-interlocked gate and the Travelling Gatekeepers on board the front and rear side of the DEMU would alight and close the gate for the train to pass through. The train would again stop at 30 metres after crossing the non-interlocked gate for the Travelling Gatekeepers to board. This is the procedure that is to be followed in the section causing long journey time of six hours to cover the 150 km stretch from Tiruvarur to Karaikudi.

The Loco Pilots and the Travelling Gatekeepers have been familiarised with the route including the number of stations, interlocked and non-interlocked gates midway.

The Pattukottai Rail Passengers Association feels that duration of running hours was very long. It would desist many from travelling in the train up to Karaikudi, says G. Moorthi, secretary of the association. Instead of Travelling Gatekeepers, the administration could deploy persons on deputation at the gates which would reduce travelling time, he said. It would be a daunting task for the Travelling Gatekeepers as they would have to jump out from the DEMU and close the gate and again reopen it before boarding the train. He said the railway administration had operated train service from Pattukottai to Karaikudi with Travelling Gatekeepers but had withdrawn it later.

Besides, the DEMU rake would not have toilets.

IRCTC asks user to clear browser history to get rid of vulgar ads on app
New Delhi:30.05.2019

An Indian railways passengers support Twitter handle on Wednesday asked a user to delete his internet search history, responding to his complaint that “vulgar and obscene” advertisements popped up on IRCTC’s ticket booking app.

The Indian Railways Seva handle (@RailwaySeva), which was set up in December 2017 for passenger support, also educated the complainant that online advertisements depend on personal browsing history of a user.

“Obscene and vulgar ads are very frequently appearing on the IRCTC ticket booking app. This is very embarrassing and irritating,” the complainant wrote. The user also tagged official Twitter handles of the railways minister, IRCTC and railway minister Piyush Goyal’s office in the tweet made at 4.15 pm.

Responding to the complaint, the Indian Railways Seva tweeted, “Irctc uses Googles ad serving tool ADX for serving ads.These ads uses cookies to target the user. Based on user history and browsing behaviour ads are shown. Please clean and delete all browser cookies and history to avoid such ads.”

Cyber expert Jiten Jain said online ads largely depend on a users’ ad preferences and the kind of content browsed through a particular device.

“And the users themselves give Google the permission to show such ads when they agree to their terms and conditions while subscribing to its services. Although it is not 100%, because in some cases Google also puts forth some ads on its own online,” Jain said.

By 9.21 pm, the Indian Railways Seva’s tweet was liked by over 7,800 users and retweeted nearly 3,700 times. The handle generally provides support to railway users on queries related to timings, PNR issues or concerns with cleanliness or food on trains.

On its support website, Google states that ads should respect user preferences and comply with legal regulations, so it does not allow certain kinds of adult content in ads and destinations.

“Some kinds of adult-oriented ads and destinations are allowed if they comply with the policies below and don’t target minors, but they will only show in limited scenarios based on user search queries, user age, and local laws where the ad is being served,” it says. PTI

QUICK RESPONSE

2 AI planes fail to take off in UK, 600 flyers to Mumbai stranded

Naomi Canton

London:30.05.2019

Nearly 600 passengers travelling between London and Mumbai were stranded at a hotel next to the airport after two Air India flights did not take off two days in a row.

A total of 293 passengers from the 1.15 pm (GMT) Air India flight on May 28 spent the night at the hotel, whilst several hundred more booked on the same flight on May 29 were sent to a room in the hotel as their flight too was delayed. Passengers complained there was no information from Air India staff.

Albashi Baig, 24, a student in London, was flying home to be in hospital in Thane for his 60-yearold father’s cardiac surgery, taking place Wednesday night.

But his Tuesday flight was grounded and the same flight on Wednesday also did not take off. Almost in tears he told TOI how had had begged Air India to get him on another flight but they did not. “No one in Air India was picking up the phone and we went to the airport and they told me to buy a new ticket costing up to £1,800 (₹1.5 lakh) one way. I’m so upset as I wanted to be with my father to give support.”

Passengers were informed at 12.30 pm that the Tuesday flight was just delayed, but then at 6.30 pm were told to collect their luggage.

54% of health professionals not qualified enough: Study
Says 20% Of Adequately Qualified Docs Not In Workforce

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:30.05.2019

Around 54% of health professionals including doctors, nurses, midwives and other paramedics in India do not have required qualifications, whereas 20% of adequately qualified doctors are not in the current workforce, a new study in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) shows highlighting concerns about a severe dearth of quality care across the country, particularly in the hinterland.

Pointing at a significant disparity between the number of registered health professionals and those who are actually practicing, the findings of the study show health workforce number around 3.8 million under the National Sample Survey (NSS). But this number is about 1.2 million less than the total number of health professionals registered with different councils and associations.

Of the currently working health professionals, around 25% do not have the required qualifications as laid down by professional councils, the study says.

The density of doctors and nurses and midwives per 10,000 population is 20.6 according to the NSS and 26.7 based on the registry data, reflecting a widening gap between demand and supply of health resources which is already in shortage.

The study, conducted by researchers from the Indian Institute of Public Health and the Public Health Foundation of India, was designed on a nationally representative cross-section household survey and review of published documents by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence.

“Distribution and qualification of health professionals are serious problems in India when compared with the overall size of the health workers. Policy should focus on enhancing the quality of health workers and mainstreaming professionally qualified persons into the health workforce,” the authors of the study concluded.

The level of required qualifications considered for doctors (allopathic, dental and AYUSH) was graduate or postgraduate in medicine; for nurse and midwife higher secondary with technical education in medicine or related field; and for others higher secondary with technical education in paramedical related fields.

The findings show more than 58% of all health workers are male. The proportion of males is higher in allopathic, AYUSH and dental categories, and lower in the nurse and midwife category. Around 80% of all health workers are in the 25–60 years age group.

Around 30% of all health workers, 15% among allopathic doctors, reported their educational level below the higher secondary level. Most of the health workers reported to be employed as regular wage earners (57%). However, as high as 63% of allopathic and 88% of AYUSH doctors reported themselves as selfemployed. More than 80% of doctors and 70% of nurses and midwives are employed in the private sector.

50-60 ministers, 8-10 from allies, likely to take oath with Modi today

Ahead Of Event, PM To Visit War Memorial

Akhilesh.Singh@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:30.05.2019

Narendra Modi will pay homage at the newly erected War Memorial at India Gate, followed by visits to Rajghat and Atal Samadhi Sthal, before taking oath on Thursday as Prime Minister for the second stint on the trot.

Modi’s visit to the War Memorial before taking charge in his second innings will only testify the ruling party’s nationalist agenda, one of its key planks in the Lok Sabha polls. A visit to the Gandhi memorial has been customary for most leaders. Modi will also be at the memorial dedicated to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of the founding fathers of BJP.

Top party leaders spent the whole of Wednesday deliberating on who will make the cut for the Modi cabinet as also the portfolios. BJP president Amit Shah had two rounds of meetings with the Prime Minister, each lasting over three hours, for the second consecutive day.

Shah’s 11 Akbar Road residence turned out to be the destination of all senior leaders of BJP just as Gujarat Bhavan was in 2014, where Modi had put up.

Besides Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Arjun Ram Meghwal called on Shah. Principal secretary to PM Nripendra Misra and additional principal secretary to the PM PK Mishra also met the BJP chief, possibly to discuss arrangements for the gala oath-taking ceremony.

Sources said Shah may join the Modi cabinet and a few others from the party organisation may follow suit. Sources said some of the leaders who have been part of the campaign and internal strategy teams may be rewarded for the hard work after the party’s thumping victory.

Sources said at least 50-60 ministers will be sworn in on Thursday, including 8-10 from NDA allies, and there might be another expansion soon as the maximum strength could be of 81ministers, which is 15% of the strength of the Lok Sabha.

Increased representation from states like West Bengal and Odisha is quite likely and larger number of MPs from Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Haryana, where assembly polls are due later this year, are likely to make it to the Council of Ministers.

President Ram Nath Kovind will administer the oath of office and secrecy to ministers at the function which will be attended by heads of government and representatives from BIMSTEC countries besides Prime Minister of Mauritius and President of Kyrgystan, who is also the chair of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

State chief ministers, including those running non-BJP governments, and captains of industry will be among the few thousand guests at the swearing in function. Several overseas friends of BJP, including from the US, Australia, Germany and the UK, have been invited.

Week after quashing case against IPS officer Sait, HC recalls a part of order
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:30.05.2019

A week after quashing corruption case proceedings against the DGPrank IPS officer Jaffer Sait, and also allowing him to ‘withdraw’ a related case pending before another court, a vacation judge of the Madras high court recalled a part of the order pertaining to withdrawal of the other case.

“The oral order, which was dictated in open court with regard to withdrawal of the 2016 petition, is hereby recalled. The 2016 petition may be posted before the regular court along with memo filed by counsel for petitioner dated May 23,” Justice P Rajamanickam said on Wednesday.

On May 23, Sait had moved the vacation judge to quash the criminal case filed against him for the alleged loss caused to Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) in connection with allotment of a residential plot in his wife's name under the Government Discretionary Quota (GDQ). Since 2016 another petition made by him seeking to quash the chargesheet filed in the case has been pending before another court.

On his part, Justice Rajamanickam first quashed the criminal proceedings against Sait and then went on to allow Sait’s counsel to withdraw the case of 2016 vintage, pending before another judge. Now, about a week after the delivery of the order, Justice Rajamanickam recalled only that portion of the ruling wherein he had allowed Sait to withdraw the 2016 petition.

In effect, while the case against Sait stands quashed due to the May 23 order, the 2016 petition has been rendered infructuous. It, however, needs to be mentioned before the judge concerned and withdrawn formally by Sait. The May 23 verdict quashing the proceedings of the criminal case cleared the roadblock for the Tamil Nadu government to consider Sait for the post of state DGP, as the two-year fixed tenure of incumbent T K Rajendran ends on June 30.

In his quash petition, Sait submitted that recently the state government had initiated the process of appointment to the post of Head of Police Force (HOPF) and a probable list of IPS officers with his name in the second place had been sent to the selection committee.

In his petition, Sait apprehended that the pending criminal case before the special court for DVAC cases, even after it had become redundant with the passing of sanction declining order by the competent authority, would prejudice his chances before the selection committee. He further submitted that he had no role in the allotment of residential plot and no pecuniary advantage was obtained in the allotment, either by him or his wife.

Pointing out that allegations made against the petitioner in the final report filed by DVAC show that the alleged offences were committed by him in discharge of his official duty, the judge said, in such case previous sanction from the central government was required.



TROUBLE LOOMS: DGP-rank IPS officer Jaffer Sait

Anna University to summon NRI students

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:30.05.2019

A day after placing four professors under suspension for a marks-forcash scam, Anna University has decided to summon nonresident Indian (NRI) students suspected to be involved in the racket for inquiry.

“During preliminary inquiry we found evidence for involvement of additional controller of examinations officials. But, the university is yet to ascertain the extent of the scam. To gather more evidence, the university would summon all the students who were found to be involved in the malpractices,” professors privy to the inquiry told TOI.

If found guilty, the degrees awarded to these students might be cancelled. “At least, a few hundred students could be involved in the malpractices,” professors said.

Looking into anonymous complaints, the university’s three-member committee found evidence for malpractices in semester exams. Some with more than 20 arrears cleared them at one go through malpractices in 2017. The varsity has suspended - former additional controller of examinations (ACOE) S Srinivasalu, and deputy controllers of examinations K Selvamani, from the department of computer science, K Kulothungan, from the department of information science and technology, and Pugazhendi Sugumaran C, from the electrical and electronics engineering department — for their alleged role in the scam.

“The racket was not limited to just these four. It was a bigger network operated by middlemen. They used lower level staff, professors and some students as brokers to lure students,” professors said.

Some NRI students, who pay ₹21 lakh as course fee for the four-year degree, are admitted with lower cut-off marks since the qualification is just 45% in physics, chemistry and maths subjects. “For many students, $1000 is not big money. The rich students with more arrears were targeted by the scamsters,” a professor said.

The university provides 5% quota each for Children of Indian Workers of Gulf Countries (CIWGC), Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Foreign National categories. It is over and above the 60 seats per batch admitted through counselling. Nearly 400 seats are available in CEG, MIT and AC Tech colleges for NRIs, foreigners and CIWGCs. However, said not all the seats would be filled. Last year, 270 seats were taken under this quota through a separate counselling.

P Tamilporai, former additional controller of examinations, K P Mani Anand, former deputy controller of examinations and R Sivakumar, an assistant professor, were recently sacked for their involvement in a similar revaluation scam in 2012.

TNSTC conductor who slakes passengers’ thirst

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | R. VALAYAPATHY

PublishedMay 29, 2019, 3:15 am IST

Call it sympathy, empathy or whatever, after issuing tickets to all passengers travelling by the TNSTC bus, Thirugnanam turns a hospitality man.

Thirugnanam giving water to some passengers during a trip. (Photo: DC)

Pudukkottai: Over-worked crew members in the state-owned Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) long-distance buses are not really known for any courtesy, leave alone their irritable behavior with bus commuters.

But one conductor wishes to make a difference, as apart from issuing tickets he takes on the responsibility of supplying water to passengers travelling in the route he currently serves- Madurai to Thanjavur via Thirumayam and Pudukkottai- both ways.

This good Samaritan-conductor, Thirugnanam (45), hailing from Thirupuvanam in Sivaganga district, sees reaching water to travelling passengers as a little service he can do.

Call it sympathy, empathy or whatever, after issuing tickets to all passengers travelling by the TNSTC bus, Thirugnanam turns a hospitality man. He goes around the bus, asking every passenger whether they need water and promptly hands out water bottles to those who need them.

Talking to DC, Mr. Thiruganam said in the last 12 years he has been working as.TNSTC staff and serving as conductor on the Madurai-Thanjavur route for the last three years.

His shift typically begins at around 2 pm every day and goes on till 2 pm the next day, roughly the time taken for one trip between Madurai and Thanjavur both ways.

"On an average over 700 passengers board our route daily and I found many struggling to find water during travel; so, realizing their difficulty, I collect 20 PET bottles of water at Madurai and Thanjavur bus stations daily before the journey commenced and thus supply more than 60 litres of water to needy passengers every day," says Thirugnanam.

"Service to people is service to God," says the humble bus conductor, thanking the Almighty for giving him "such a wonderful opportunity to serve the needy".

Even as passengers appreciate his extra services, you never know, Thirugnanam could become TNSTC's 'brand ambassador' tomorrow.

State should enhance medical facilities for its employees: Madras high court

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | J STALIN

Published  May 29, 2019, 5:53 am IST

The judge said Right to Health was an integral part of Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Madras high court

Chennai: The Madras high court has held that it is the duty of the state government to ensure that either the standard of the state medical facilities should be enhanced with the state of the art quality/facility for treatment on par with private medical facilities or till such time such parity is achieved by the state, it must provide all necessary financial assistance to its employees/pensioners to take care of their medical needs through the private sector.

Justice R.Suresh Kumar gave the ruling while passing orders on a batch of petitions, challenging the orders of the authorities, rejecting their claim for medical reimbursement under the New Health Insurance Scheme.

“In order to fulfill this obligation, the government had introduced and implemented the successive Health Insurance Schemes for its employees and pensioners. Therefore, it is the obligation of the state either to provide medical facilities on their own, of course on par with private medical facilities, otherwise they must be kept enabled to avail such facilities through private sector”, the judge added.

The judge said Right to Health was an integral part of Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution. This theory of the State’s obligation towards Right to Health for its citizen was not an invention of our Constitution makers alone, as this obligation had been felt at thousands of years back in Sangam Age in this part of the country i.e., Tamil Nadu, the judge pointed out.

Quoting several couplets from Thirukkural, the judge said free from disease or epidemics i.e., Right to Health was an important facet of any welfare state. The state must explore all possible resources and implement all such welfare schemes to ensure such Right to Health situation to its citizens. “In order to achieve the said avowed goal as quoted by Saint Thiruvalluvar, the state government, being the welfare State, must be in a position to protect its citizens, especially, in the present context, its employees and erstwhile employees, from all health issues. Therefore, the obligation of the state government and their duty towards achieving this goal cannot be abdicated on any flimsy or technical reasons. Therefore, viewing from this angle also, the state government’s obligation cannot be easily given up or washed away in the manner it has been done in these cases. Therefore, this court is of the considered view that, none of the orders passed in this batch of cases are sustainable”, the judge added.

The judge said even though District Level Empowered Committee have been constituted headed by the District Collector concerned, in some of the cases, if this court look at the decision making process as well as end result of the decision taken by the Empowered Committee, it was hardly to believe whether any application of mind has been made by the Empowered Committee against each of the claim before taking a decision either to accept or reject the claim. In number of cases, very mechanically rejection orders have been passed with one word or one line reason, that itself was unacceptable or unsustainable.

Madras high court quashes orders on medical reimbursement for state employees

DECCAN CHRONICLE.

Published   May 29, 2019, 6:07 am IST

While reconsidering, the committee shall not reject any claim merely on the reason of non-network hospital or non-listed disease, the judge added.

Madras high court

Chennai: The Madras high court has quashed the orders passed by the authorities, rejecting the claim of the employees and pensioners of the state government and its undertakings to grant medical reimbursement under the New Health Insurance Scheme implemented by the state government from time to time.

Passing orders on a batch of petitions filed from the year 2013 onwards, from S.Manimuthu and others, Justice R.Suresh Kumar remitted the matter back to the District Level Empowered Committee concerned to reconsider every individual case.

“While reconsidering, the committee shall not reject any claim merely on the reason of non-network hospital or non-listed disease. The Committee, wherever possible, shall give suitable direction to the Insurance Company to reimburse the claim made by the respective claimant/employee/pensioner”, the judge added.

The judge said if the committee finds some cases where the Insurance Company cannot be directed to reimburse, in those cases, suitable orders shall be passed directing/recommending the state authorities to reimburse the claim under Medical Attendance Rules. “Once such orders are passed, the Insurance Company shall immediately reimburse the medical claim with 6 percent interest from the date of due till date of payment, within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of such order to be passed by the Empowered Committee of the district concerned”, the judge added.

The judge said on receipt of such orders/recommendation from the Empowered Committee, the Sanctioning authority/state authority/high power committee in the state level shall pass necessary orders allowing the medical reimbursement claimed by the individual claimant/employee/pensioner under the Medical Attendance Rules. While ordering medical reimbursement under Medical Attendance Rules, the rate approved, accepted or quoted by the Insurance Company under the Medical Insurance Scheme shall be taken as the rate and by calculating the reimbursement on the said rate, the reimbursement claim shall be immediately sanctioned and the amount shall be reimbursed to the claimant with 6 percent interest from the date of due till date of payment, within a period of thirty days from the receipt of the recommendation/order from the District Empowered Committee, judge added.

Citing several judgments, the judge said when the employee or pensioner availed a treatment in a non-network hospital whether the said treatment was taken out of emergency or not cannot be decided easily sitting in administrative desk by perusing the papers.

Mother Teresa Women’s University gets new V-C

Vaidehi Vijayakumar has been appointed as the vice chancellor of Mother Teresa Women’s University, Kodaikanal.

Published: 29th May 2019 03:15 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Vaidehi Vijayakumar has been appointed as the vice chancellor of Mother Teresa Women’s University, Kodaikanal. Governor Banwarilal Purohit has appointed Vaidehi in the post for a period of three years with effect from the date of her assumption of office, said a statement issued from the Governor’s office.

According to the statement, Vaidehi Vijayakumar has a rich teaching experience. She worked as a professor at Anna University for more than 12 years. She has been a visiting professor in several foreign universities such as Ryerson University, Canada, National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

In the area of promoting research, Vaidehi Vijayakumar so far has guided 24 PhD research scholars and presented 266 papers at the international level research and academic events. She has also been a member of Board of Studies of various universities and a member of the Academic Council of Anna University and Vellore Institute of Technology. She also has good administrative experience as she served in posts of head of department and dean at Anna University and VIT University.

Students with arrears to get two final chances, decides AU syndicate
Anna University syndicate has decided to give two final chances to students who have exhausted the maximum period of time before which they can clear their arrears.

Published: 29th May 2019 06:17 AM |

A file photo of Anna University | Express

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Anna University syndicate has decided to give two final chances to students who have exhausted the maximum period of time before which they can clear their arrears. In a release on Tuesday, varsity registrar said that students can appear for the exam either in November - December 2019 or April - May 2020.

The decision was taken on “humanitarian grounds” after receiving representations from several students who wanted to clear their arrears, a university senior official told Express adding that there are nearly 40,000 students who have arrears. After a syndicate meeting on May 9, the university decided to make an exception from the 2011 regulations, the official said. Along with students of undergraduate courses, post-graduate students will also be eligible for the benefit.”This will be the last chance for students to clear their arrears and get their degree,” he said.

Two categories of students will benefit from this decision. One, students of departments of Anna University, Chennai, admitted on or after the academic year 2000 and the other students of affiliated colleges of the varsity admitted in the academic year 2001-02 (3rd semester onwards) and 2002-03 (1st semester onwards) and also students who were earlier in affiliated colleges which have become autonomous now.

As per regulations, students should clear all arrears within seven years (the four year course period an additional three years after completion of the course), in order to get their degrees. However, students who are not able to complete the course within the stipulated time, have been submitting requests to the varsity to give them one last chance.


Students using this opportunity, will have to pay an additional special fee, in addition to the arrears charges, the official said adding that further details will be released on the varsity website by the second week of June. The syndicate also approved the new rule which allows students to write arrears immediately in the following semester exams, he said.

35-year-old tribal woman from Odisha passes Class X with son

Satyanarayan Pattnaik TNN

Koraput29.05.2019

: Age is no bar for education and a 35-year-old tribal woman from Maoist-hit Malkangiri district in Odisha has proved the adage by clearing the state Class X board exams with her son.

Basanti and her son, Sibananda Patnaik, have cleared the annual HSC examination 2019 with D and C grade, respectively.

“I am very happy that I was able to pass the HSC examination in my first attempt,” said Basanti, a resident of Colony-C of Tarlakota panchayat. The woman, who dropped out of school at the age of 14, now works at the village anganwadi centre.

“Though I was interested in studies, I dropped out when I was in Class VIII owing to lack of money. I got married and remained busy with my family. Resuming studies was difficult but it was something I frequently thought about,” she said.

Basanti’s resilient dream to study got a new lease of life after her son motivated her to appear for the HSC examination through a correspondence course. “I use to scan my son’s books after he would return from school. Seeing my interest, he urged me to sit for the examination,” she said.

Basanti passed without any coaching. She could only study for two or three hours a daythatshe managedbetween her job and household chores. Her husband’s support also helped. “I am very happy for her. I will extend all cooperation if she wants to continue her education and appear for the intermediate examination,” saidher husband,Laba Pattnaik, a teacher.

Basanti’s achievement has made her fellow villagers proud as well. “Considering the remoteness of the area, it is a rare achievement. Her success will motivate other tribal women of the villagetocontinue studies,” said Ramesh Muduli, a villager.



AGE NO BAR: Basanti and her son, Sibananda Patnaik, have cleared the annual HSC examination 2019 with D and C grade, respectively